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How to Avoid Drowning

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in

Drowning Dangers - Man Being Pulled from Water before DrowningOne of the best ways to beat the heat and have fun this summer is to go for a swim. Swimming provides excellent exercise and is a vital part of many family vacations and recreational opportunities offered in the summer. However, summer is the time of year when you and your loved ones are most at risk for drowning. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day, with drowning being the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. Keep reading for tips on how to avoid drowning, such as:

  • Using life jackets
  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Maintaining proper emergency equipment

Wear a Life Jacket

As adults, we tend to think that only kids need life jackets. But even if you know how to swim, life jackets are a critical component for enjoying a day out on the water. Life jackets should be worn during water sports including boating and jet skiing. Wearing a life jacket can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 50%.

Avoid Alcohol

Among teens and adults, alcohol use is involved in 70 percent of deaths involving water recreation and 20 percent of boating deaths. It’s best to stick to water and fruit juice for hydration while swimming, boating and boarding.

RELATED ARTICLE: Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

Know How to Respond to an Emergency

If you notice someone is missing, check the water first. If you see someone drowning, it is best to “throw before you go.” Throw a flotation device to them from boat, dock, or pool deck. If you enter the water, approach the victim from behind. A drowning person will panic, latch onto you, and possibly take you under with them. If you own a pool, make sure you have flotation devices in the pool area and the pool skimmer on the deck. You can use the pool skimmer to pull the person to the edge.

If you do not know CPR, what are you waiting on? Learn it! You could save a life in the time it takes the paramedics to arrive on the scene.

Contact Premier Urgent Care Chicago

Premier Urgent Care Center provides high-quality healthcare throughout the Chicago area, with urgent care services that are quick, convenient, and compassionate. We have a staff of highly trained and board certified physicians and physician assistants who can address the immediate healthcare needs of your whole family.

Check in next week for the second in this two-part series on drowning.

Better Providers. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.
Call (773) 891-2890.
Insurance accepted.

5 Common Summer Sports Injuries – Are Your Kids Playing It Safe?

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sports injuries - soccer player holding injured kneeOne of the best ways to keep kids up, out, and active this summer is to encourage sports participation. Whether it involves organized team sports or a little informal one-on-one competition, sports are a great way to prevent kids from becoming couch potatoes. However, summer sports are not without risk. Here are several common sports injuries you might encounter during the summer months, as well as several tips and techniques to avoid visits to the doctor’s office.

1. Sprains and Strains and Tendon injuries

The most common sports-related injuries in children (and adults) are sprains and strains. Sprains involve ligament damage and strains involve muscle damage. They each can range from very mild to severe. Sprained ankles can occur on the basketball court or while just running around the back yard. Proper footwear is a good start to help prevent ankle sprains, but sometimes they are inevitable. Imagine after a jumpshot you land on an opponent’s foot. You will likely injury your ankle. You or your child may be running full speed for a loose ball and feel an immediately pain in a muscle, such as the hamstring (posterior thigh). That would be a muscle strain. Dynamic stretching and having your body properly warmed up before strenuous exercise is a great way to prevent that. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) is an excellent place to start with treating the injuries initially.

Some of these injuries are due to sudden movements and others due to repetitive movements. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis, respectively are overuse injuries. The best way to prevent them is through proper technique and training methods. Once the injury occurs, it often requires rest, anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen or naproxen), and physical therapy exercises.

2. Broken Bones (Fractures)

There is virtually no limit to the ways a child can fracture or break a bone with summer physical activities. Whether it’s from a trampoline, skateboarding, football, or a bicycle accident, these injuries can be serious if not treated appropriately.

Some fractures are obvious with an unnatural deformity, like an S-shaped curve in a child’s forearm. Others can be subtle and occur from overuse during sports when a child doesn’t give his/her body time to rest between games or activities. An example of that would be a stress fracture in a runner’s foot or gymnast’s lower back. The best ways to prevent fractures are to use protective equipment and get plenty of rest between exercises.

RELATED ARTICLE: 3 Common Summer Injuries for Kids

3. Eye injuries

Children who play sports and are active during the summer also run the risk of eye injuries. A thrown ball can strike a child in the face, and debris can get into the eyes when swimming.

You can prevent eye injuries with protective wear, such as goggles. If your child has an eye injury, you should take him/her to an emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible for an immediate exam. In rare cases, some eye injuries can have long-lasting effects and threaten a child’s vision.

4. Dehydration

When the temperature rises, it becomes much more dangerous for young bodies to exert themselves when not properly hydrated. Dehydration increases the likelihood of muscle cramps and other overuse injuries.

The simple solution is to avoid soda and caffeine, and drink plenty of water before, during, and after heavy physical activity.

5. Head injuries

Head injuries can be serious and, thankfully, they are not as common as some of the other summer sports injuries listed here. But, they do happen and can result from any contact sport – hockey, football, or soccer.

You can prevent these injuries by requiring that your child wear a helmet to participate in these sports. If there is a possibility of concussion, such as headache, fogginess, or memory difficulty after head trauma, be sure to seek immediate medical attention.

If you do run into trouble this summer, you will not have to deal with it on your own. Premier Urgent Care has convenient office hours and is available to see you and/or your child whether you have an appointment or not. We’re located in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area and offer free parking for our patients.

Visit https://premierucchicago.com to learn more about different types of health facilities, such as urgent care clinics, to help you decide which facility can best treat your condition at the appropriate time and with the right resources.

Better Providers. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.
Call (773) 891-2890.
Insurance accepted.

3 Common Summer Injuries for Kids

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in , ,

common summer injuries - Injured young man with arm support

Soon your children will be home for the summer. They will be playing outside and (inevitably) injuring themselves. There are many common summer injuries for kids, but the question many parents ask is, “What should I do if they happen?”

Some injuries aren’t serious and can be treated at home, but others require the attention of a medical professional. Here are a few common summer injuries for kids and tips for helping them stay safe.

Trampolines

It’s nice outside and the kids want to bounce. They love the trampoline, but it can be dangerous if they are not careful.

A few tips to keep your children safe on trampolines:

  • One person jumping at a time
  • Always supervise your children
  • Do not allow somersaults
  • Cover the springs with padding
  • Keep children under 6 off the trampoline

If you are unsure a trampoline is safe for your child, it may be best to keep them away or consult your child’s physician for more information.

Lawn Mowers

Most kids love to help mow the lawn or ride the mower for fun, but this can be dangerous if they are not properly supervised. To protect your children from injuries, it is important to keep these ideas in mind:

  • Children under 12 should not operate a mower (despite what your parents made you do)
  • Young children should be safely away from a mower as it can launch harmful debris (sticks, rocks, etc.)
  • Always wear protective eyewear, use ear protection, and wear appropriate footwear

This is not an exhaustive list by any means but just some common contributors to mower injuries.

RELATED ARTICLE: What Does Urgent Care Treat?

Playgrounds

Children love to visit playgrounds and parks in the summer. There are slides and jungle gyms and myriad fun objects to climb on, swing from, and play with to and keep kids entertained. But what about the hazards of a playground?

Keep your children safe with these rules for playground safety:

  • Do not allow children to play on wet equipment
  • Do not go down the slide with your child (a common cause of lower extremity injuries)
  • Remove drawstrings and hoods from clothing that could catch on equipment
  • Ensure your child is wearing proper footwear

Many things can happen to a child at the playground. It is important to think about safety with your children, with regard to their clothing and play habits.

Kids will be kids and they will find ways to hurt themselves that few can predict. However, it is important to follow safety practices no matter where you are or what your child is doing. Following the tips above steps will help prevent many potential injuries to your children.

Helmets should be mandatory and pads are strongly recommended when riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter. Water safety should not be ignored but is a separate topic that requires its own list of tips. Dangers seem to be lurking at every turn. It is impossible to prevent all injuries but some simple precautions can significantly help reduce the chances.

Better Providers. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.

Call (773) 891-2890.

Insurance accepted.

4 Ways to Speed up Your Urgent Care Visit

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in ,

reviewing patient information to speed up urgent care visitPatients often choose to visit urgent care centers because they prefer to avoid the long waiting periods associated with ER services and days-long waiting for their primary care service providers. Because of this increased demand, urgent care centers can get busy and have some wait times, albeit much shorter. Is there anything you can do to minimize this? Follow these tips to speed up your urgent care visit.

Online Check-In

Technology in the medical field not only has made healthcare delivery more effective, but it has also increased convenience for healthcare providers and patients. Many urgent care centers have websites where you can check-in online. This process is even easier if you are a returning patient to the clinic, because most of the information may be on file or in an online account. Online check-in saves time at the location and can guarantee you faster service.

Writing and Gathering Information

A great amount of time is spent looking over your relevant medical information before the actual visit. Show some consideration towards the receptionist, physician, and other staff, and bring as much of your medical information and documents as possible. In general, most urgent care clinics will require you to bring one of the following forms:

  • Valid identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
  • Insurance card (to verify your plan’s coverage and associated co-pays)
  • Method of payment (cash, check, card, etc.)
  • Completed patient forms.

In addition to your documents, you can bring in brief notes describing any symptoms or aspects of your current condition with as much detail as possible. Sometimes, your memory might get hazy, so writing down this information can help the healthcare provider immensely.

Filling Out Forms Online

Just like with an appointment check-in, technology has expedited the process of filling out forms. Some urgent care clinics allow you to fill out the required forms online as you check-in. You can complete these forms from the comfort of your home and the information can be seamlessly uploaded by the time you arrive at the urgent care.

Resolving Billing

Another way to prevent potential delays and surprises right before your clinic visit is by resolving your financial information before the visit. Research methods of payment for the specific clinic you are visiting and arrive with the currency or method at hand. Also, urgent care clinics accept most forms of insurance, but double-check to ensure the chosen clinic accepts your insurance. Premier Urgent Care Chicago accepts most insurances except Medicaid.

Proper preparation will shorten your wait time, allow the healthcare provider to take better care of you and allow you to get back to the things you need to do.

Better Providers. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.

Call (773) 891-2890.

Insurance accepted.

What Does Urgent Care Treat?

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in

what does urgent care treatUrgent care clinics such as Premier Urgent Care, are staffed by the same qualified doctors, nurses, and other knowledgeable medical professionals you would see in emergency rooms and private clinics. However, how do you know when you should visit an urgent care center instead of emergency room or other medical facility? Below is the answer to the common question, “What does an urgent care treat and what medical services do they provide?”

Services Offered in Urgent Care Centers

Generally, urgent care centers provide services and treat conditions that are not life-threatening, but also cannot wait for a doctor’s appointment. Urgent care clinics are staffed by doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, and generally have the equipment to perform x-ray and urine exams, as well as blood work. These facilities generally do not have the resources to treat potentially life-threatening symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or slurred speech.

Specifically, the professional medical staff at Premier Urgent Care treats the following conditions:

Click to see a comprehensive list of urgent care services.

Premier Urgent Care also offers occupational health services, which are specifically aimed at employees in a workplace.

When to Visit an Urgent Care Clinic

Urgent care centers provide a wide variety of services and treatments for several conditions. Generally, patients go to these facilities to treat acute – but not life-threatening – conditions that need immediate attention. There are also other situations that might require you to visit these centers.

  • Affordability. Urgent care facilities usually accept the same insurance plans that primary care clinics do. In addition, they also are a more affordable option for mild and moderate conditions that require immediate treatment compared to emergency room visits. This is a strong benefit for uninsured patients.
  • After-Hours Care. Conditions sometimes develop at the most inconvenient times, specifically when your primary care clinic is closed. Urgent care centers are typically open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and sometimes operate on weekends, which is a wider availability not found in primary care centers.
  • Need for Primary Care Services. Urgent care centers provide several functions that primary care locations do, but with greater accessibility. Some of these services include exams and testing, stiches, basic shots, prescription renewals, and treatment of minor illnesses.

Learn more about different types of health facilities, such as urgent care clinics, to help you decide which facility can best treat your condition at the appropriate time and with the right resources.

 

Better Providers. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.
Call (773) 891-2890.
Insurance accepted.

Do You Have to Have Insurance to Use Urgent Care?

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in

Do You Have to Have Insurance to Use Urgent CareIdeally, if you experience an acute but non-life-threatening injury, you will visit an emergency room or urgent care, submit your insurance information, pay a small co-pay, and bill the rest to your insurance company. However, many factors may prevent the ideal situation from happening.

Some people simply do not have insurance. Others may prefer not to utilize their insurance due to high deductibles or high co-pays. Still others may not have an insurance program that is accepted at their local hospital.

Can you visit urgent care without insurance?

Read on for a quick guide to utilizing urgent care.

Visiting Urgent Care Without Insurance

Can you visit urgent care without insurance? The answer is, unequivocally, yes. In fact, many people without insurance or those who choose not to utilize their coverage decide to use an urgent care. This is because urgent care visits are almost always significantly less expensive than emergency room visits.

A visit to an emergency room often costs well above $500 just for the facility fee. However, the moment you receive services, treatments, medications, and the like, the fees begin to rise drastically. An ER visit can cost several thousand dollars for something relatively simple. Urgent care fees, by contrast, can begin as low as $100 depending on the reason for your visit and the equipment and/or medication used.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why there are shocking costs on your emergency room bill

Will You Receive Treatment?

Urgent care centers accept patients without insurance, so you will have no trouble receiving treatment. However, if you cannot pay anything at all, they are not under any obligation to treat you, like an emergency room would be. If you are concerned about paying for your urgent care treatment, you have a few options.

  • Inquire about treatment rates. Staff may not be able to calculate the exact cost of your visit before it occurs. However, you can seek treatment with a general idea of the cost you may be expecting before it begins.
  • Inquire about credit acceptance. If you have a credit card or Care Credit account you’d like to use as payment, ensure your urgent care accepts your form of payment.
  • Inquire about discounts for cash payments. Some urgent care centers – though certainly not all, as it is not a requirement – accept cash payments for services at a discounted rate. Although this is not a guaranteed discount, asking doesn’t hurt.
  • Inquire about payment plans. If you’re unsure about your ability to pay for treatment, you may be able to utilize a payment plan and pay over time. Many urgent care centers offer fairly low rates as well.

Patients without insurance or who choose not to use their insurance due to high deductibles or co-pays are welcome in our Hyde Park urgent care clinic at any time.

We also participate with most national and local insurance providers and are happy to provide urgent care services to anyone wishing to utilize their insurance. It is the patient’s responsibility to understand whether his or her insurance has limits on the doctors he or she can see, or the services he or she can receive.

If you provide complete and accurate information about your insurance, we will submit claims to your insurance carrier and receive payments for services. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may be responsible for co-payments, co-insurance, or other deductible amounts.

For more information about insurance and billing, contact our billing department at your convenience at (773) 891-2890.

Better Doctors. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.
Call (773) 891-2890.
Insurance accepted.

Urgent Care or Emergency Room? How to Choose

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in

Urgent Care or Emergency RoomWhat comes to mind when you think of an urgent care clinic? Many people may imagine a stand-alone emergency room (ER). Some people may even use the two terms interchangeably. Even though both medical services have similarities, they also have a few key differences that are important to know in case of an emergency. Keep reading to learn about the similarities and differences between an urgent care and emergency room to determine which one will best meet your needs.

Similarities between Urgent Care and Emergency Room

Both urgent care and ER services share some similarities that make it easy for many people to confuse one with the other.

  • Immediate Care. As their names imply, both facilities specialize in providing medical care as quickly as possible. If you have a medical situation or accident that cannot wait for a traditional doctor’s appointment, the staff in each facility can provide you with medical care immediately.
  • Flexible Staff. The healthcare providers who work in urgent care centers and ERs are trained to deal with a variety of illnesses and injuries. Because both medical services prioritize immediate care for any situation, these experts will treat a wide variety of conditions.
  • Availability. Both services are available at times when traditional physician access is not an option, such as evenings and weekends. Even though urgent care clinics have set schedules and ERs are open 24/7, they both aim for extra availability.

Differences between Urgent Care and ER

A few important differences:

  • Scope of Services. Most people who use urgent care centers generally come in for minor illnesses, injuries, and conditions that can be treated by a physician or nurse practitioner. The healthcare providers at clinics, often times, do not have the training and/or equipment to deal with complex, life-threatening conditions. Conditions such as chest pain, slurred speech or weakness (stroke symptoms), trouble breathing, serious burns, etc. are best treated in an emergency room.
  • Cost Differences. ER services are much more expensive due to several factors, including fees for staff which can include consultants, and equipment, higher insurance co-pays, and more. Urgent cares provide services for less serious conditions at a more affordable price. Consider your situation carefully because you could end up potentially paying thousands of dollars more for care that did not require an ER.
  • Wait Times. Even though both services specialize in fast care, your wait time could be dramatically different depending on the situation. You could wait many hours to get a few stitches on your finger or tested for strep throat. ERs utilize a triage system that prioritizes people with more emergent conditions. Someone potentially having a heart attack will always go ahead of someone with a small cut or sore throat.

Even though urgent care clinics and ERs focus on immediate treatment, they each have strengths and weaknesses depending on the situation. Knowing which one to choose can make a significant difference in the type of care you receive, how long you wait, and how much you end up paying.

Better Doctors. Better Care.

Learn why patients have come to trust Premier Urgent Care.

No appointment needed.

Call (773) 891-2890.

Insurance accepted.

P.O.P. Celebrates National Youth Violence Prevention Week

Posted on by Premier Urgent Care Chicago in , , ,

National Youth Violence Prevention WeekApril 8-12 was National Youth Violence Prevention Week, and perhaps no other Hyde Park organization puts on a celebration quite like Project Outreach and Prevention (P.O.P) on Youth Violence.

That week, a series of rallies designed to get area youth up, out, and thinking about ways to prevent youth violence, took place throughout Chicagoland. Teens from all walks of life were given the opportunity to get together to hear from area role models. They were able to strategize about violence prevention and break some stereotypes—all while having fun along the way.

The P.O.P. rally was the brainchild of the organization’s co-founder, Dr. Michael A. McGee. Together with P.O.P.’s other co-founder, Dr. Reuben Rutland and business partner Dr. Airron Richardson (the trio owns Premier Urgent Care and Occupational Health Center), Dr. McGee developed this project for a couple of reasons. He wanted to show Chicago kids more examples of positive role models and teach them some skills they can take back to their schools to help with youth violence prevention. Premier Urgent Care funded this project solely and provided hundreds of students with the opportunity to speak out about youth violence. The CSO Sports Multiplex hosted the event in its space, adjacent to the Premier Urgent Care Center located at 1301 East 47th Street in Hyde Park. The CSO Sports Multiplex and the medical center where Premier Urgent Care is located was created by former Chicago Bears wide receiver and practicing orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gregory Primus. The medical center is home to physicians practicing a variety of specialties that include orthopedics, podiatry, pain management, chiropractic medicine, and gastroenterology (GI).

The event tied in perfectly with last week’s National Youth Violence Prevention Week (NYVPW), a campaign designed by the national organization – Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) – to provide education and intervention to youth affected by all types of violence, including gun violence. The P.O.P. program has proved to be an ideal organization embodying the values of NYVPW and starting SAVE chapters in high schools across the region.

Click for a full recap of the event

P.O.P. has been reaching out to Chicago and Northwest Indiana youth with its dual message of change through mentorship and youth violence prevention since 2015, when it became a 501(c)(3) incorporated nonprofit organization. P.O.P. started the Health Professions Enrichment Program (HPEP), which pairs students with mentors in the health industry and strives to provide career insight, study advice, and a head start on a productive, fulfilling career for at-risk youth.

To learn more visit: NWIPOP.ORG or by phone 219-798-0744. The organization is actively working to create solutions for the problems facing our communities.

“Not One More Life, One More Day”

Youth Violence Prevention Conference
May 24th, Hammond Civic Center – Hammond, IN

call (773) 891-2890

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